2024 European Championship - Pyraminx Podium
(2.30), 2.06, 2.17, 2.13, (1.83) = 2.12
2nd place at the European Championship 2024
Honestly where do I begin with this. This is obviously my best cubing achievement to date, but there's also so much behind it, 2 years of pyraminx practice almost 100% targeted at the 5 solves I would do in the final of 2024 European Championship, and ultimately it has paid off.
Since the last Euros, I've had a podium at this Euros as my main goal. Obviously I knew it was unlikely, especially in an event like pyraminx where anything can happen, but I've put a huge focus on consistency in my solves, as well as dealing with competition nerves. The competition nerves point especially has been incredibly difficult to deal with (A lot of people just accept it rather than facing it), but compared to where I was 2 years ago, I've basically cracked it. There's so much that goes into it and I plan on making even more videos in the future about it, but the point is that it is something you can practice, and something some people are better than than others.
I've figured out how to adapt my solutions, inspection strategy, and so much about my solves to make them consistent and solid. It was a risk, a risk that meant coming in at 10th seed rather than potentially higher, a risk that meant having a global average slower than many others at the competition, but a risk that was ultimately worth it, and helped me achieve what I've been thinking about and focusing on for 2 years.
I think the last solve of the final is my second favourite solve of all time (4th solve of the 1.80 to clinch sub-2 just edges it). I didn't know at the time that it was a podium clinching solve, but it felt meaningful to finish the average with bpa, and ultimately it was, bringing me from 4th to 2nd. Shoutout to Jason for celebrating that solve so loud he got told off by the organisers lol.
Congratulations to Jonathan Plug for winning and for the amazing consistency over the 3 rounds, and also to Jakub Hibszer for coming 3rd, getting his second Euros podium in a row. I really enjoyed meeting so many great people at this competition.
Looking ahead, the path is clear. I'm consistent enough, calm enough at competitions, and have a podium at the 2nd biggest competition in history to show for that. Now is the time to go all in on speed, increase my world ranking and give beating the 1.57 a proper go.